Panty



G. ABBOTT Jan. 20, 1970 PANTY Filed July 9, 1968 VENTOR.

GEORGE A8807? United States Patent 3,490,075 PANTY George Abbott, New York, N.Y., assignor to Ithaca Textiles, Ine., Ithaca, N.Y., a corporation of Maryland Filed July 9, 1968, Ser. No. 743,411 Int. Cl. A41b 9/04 US. Cl. 2224 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A panty for supporting hosiery comprises front and back panels of knitted fabric adapted for substantially greater stretching vertically than horizontally and which gradually increase in width from their upper edge portions, a pair of side panels of knitted fabric adapted for substantially greater stretching horizontally than vertically and which gradually decrease in width from their upper edge portions, and a crotch piece having opposite end portions seamed to the front and back panels, respectively, and made of knitted fabric adapted for substantially greater stretching lengthwise than widthwise, the panty being provided with an elastic waist. The hosiery can be releasably attached to hooks or other attachment elements secured to the free lower end portions of tabs stitched to the inside of the panty adjacent each leg opening, the tabs serving to maintain the attachment elements out of contact with the wearers legs. The panty provides a highly effective support for the hosiery and at the same time is comfortable and avoids creating unsightly lines, bulges, etc., in the outer garment.

This invention relates to ladies garments and more particularly to a novel panty for supporting hosiery.

The new panty is unique in that it can be made of nylon tricot in a soft, comfortable lingerie weight and yet will support the hosiery effectively at all times so as to avoid sagging or bagging of the stockings at the knees, which is a common fault of the best of the so-called panty hose known heretofore. In addition, the new panty does not bind at the waist or leg openings but instead is more comfortable at these regions than conventional panties and, of course, is far more comfortable than any panty girdle or foundation garment.

One feature of the present invention resides in a novel panels made of a knitted fabric, such as nylon tricot, which to lie flat on the wearers body without the bulging excess fabric common to conventional panties, and which also enables the panty to follow the body movements to a far greater degree than conventional garments, whereby the panty stays in place and covers the area for which it is designed without the uncomfortable back waist drop after bending or the back seat lift which is equally annoying to the wearer.

According to this feature of the invention, the new panty comprises front and back panels and a pair of side panels made of a knitted fabric, such as nylon tricot, which is adapted for substantially greater stretching in one direction than in another direction at right angles to the first. The front and back panels are adapted for substantially greater stretching in the vertical direction and preferably increase gradually in width from their upper edge portions, while the side panels are adapted for substantially greater stretching in the horizontal direction and preferably decrease gradually in width from their upper edge portions. Opposite lateral edge portions of each side panel are seamed to adjacent lateral edge portions of the front and back panels, respectively, and a crotch piece has opposite end portions seamed to the front and back panels, respectively. Elastic material is secured to and extends along at least part of the upper edge portions of 3,490,075 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 the panels to provide the panty with an elastic waist, and elastics are preferably secured to the crotch piece and lower edge portions of the panels so as to extend around the respective leg openings.

Another feature of the invention resides in providing the panty with attachment means releasably attachable to the hosiery and which are secured to the inside of the panty and yet maintained out of contact with the wearers legs. According to this feature in its preferred form, hooks or other releasable attachment elements are secured to the free lower end portions of tabs which are stitched to at least some of the panels at the inside thereof adjacent each leg opening, and each hook is located at the outside of its supporting tab so that the latter will lie between the hook and the corresponding leg of the wearer. Preferably, the hooks for each stocking are located between the respective tabs and an elastic secured to the panty so as to extend around the corresponding leg opening.

These and other features of the invention will be better understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are front, rear and side views, respec tively, of a preferred form of the new panty;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, showing details of one of the releasable attachment means, and

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are plan views of one of the side panels, the front and back panels and the crotch piece, respectively.

The panty as illustrated comprises a front panel 10, a back panel 11, two side panels 12 and 12a, and a crotch piece 13. All of these parts are made of a warp-knitted fabric having a substantially greater degree of stretchability in one direction than in another direction transverse to the first. A preferred fabric is nylon tricot of light weight such as is used for lingerie. The crotch piece 13 is of double thickness, while the various panels are of single thickness.

The front and back panels 10 and 11, as shown by the arrows thereon, have their maximum degree of stretchability in the vertical direction, whereby they afford maximum resistance to stretching in the horizontal direction. Conversely, the side panels 12 and 12a have their maximum degree of stretchability in the horizontal direction, as shown by the arrows thereon, so that they afford maximum resistance to stretching in the vertical direction.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each of the side panels 12 and 12a has its lateral edges slanting downwardly and inwardly, so that the panel gradually decreases in width from its upper to its lower edge. On the other hand, the front and back panels 10 and 11 are cut so that their lateral edges slant downwardly and outwardly, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, whereby these panels gradually increase in width from their upper to their lower edges. The lower edges of the panels 10 and 11 are centrally notched, as shown at 10a and 11a, respectively, and the edge portions defining these notches are seamed to opposite end portions of the crotch piece 13 to provide a front seam 14 (FIG. 1) and a back seam 15 (FIG. 2). The crotch piece 13 has its maximum stretchability in its lengthwise direction, that is, from its front to its back end as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 8.

Each of the side panels 12 and 12a has its opposite lateral edge portions seamed to adjacent lateral edge portions of the front panel 10 and back panel 11, respectively, thereby providing four generally vertical seams 16, 17, 18 and 19. Thus, the lower edges of the panels and the lateral edges of the crotch piece define a pair of leg openings 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. 1. The edge portions of the fabric adjacent these leg openings are folded inwardly to form multiple thicknesses and then stitched to enclose an elastic 22 (FIG. 4) surrounding each leg opening. This gives the fabric a somewhat gathered" effect around the leg openings, as shown at 23, and makes the openings expandable to provide a snug fit around the thighs. Similarly, the upper edge portions of the panels are folded inwardly and stitched to enclose elastic material (not shown) surrounding the waist opening of the panty, Where the fabric is thus given a gathered effect as shown at 24. The elastic waist 24 fits the torso snugly and serves to retain the panty in the desired position.

To support the hosiery, attachment means 26 are secured to the inside of the panty adjacent the edges of the leg openings 20 and 21 and spaced around these openings, such means being releasably attachable to the upper portions of the stockings (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4, each of the attachment means 26 comprises a tab 27, consisting of a double thickness of fabric tape, and a releasable attachment element in the form of a hook 28 having its shank secured between the plies of the tab at its lower end portion by suitable stitching. The upper end portion of the tab is sewn to the inside of the adjacent panel, such as panel 11, as shown at 29. The hook 28 extends outwardly and upwardly from the free lower end of tab 27 and is thus located between the tab and the lower edge portion of the adjacent panel where it contains one of the elastics 22.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, four attachment means 26 are provided adjacent each leg opening, two of them being located at the seams joining the opposite lateral edges of the corresponding side panel with the front and back panels. The other two attachment means 26 near each leg opening are secured to the front and back panels, respectively, adjacent the crotch piece 13. Thus, there are four hooks 28 adapted to be inserted through the mesh of each stocking at spaced points around its upper portion, where it may be suitably reinforced. Since the supporting tabs 27 are interposed between the corresponding hooks 28 and the wearers legs, the latter are protected from discomfort. Moreover, the hooking side (outside) of each tab 27 is covered by one of the leg elastics 22, thereby preventing the hook from snagging on other clothing and at the same time presenting a flat appearance rather than the lumpy appearance created by conventional attachments. Of course, the hooks 28 can be readily released from the stockings to permit their replacement or to permit their removal independently of the panty; and it will be understood that releasable attachment elements in a form other than the hooks 28 can be used for the same purpose.

Because of the novel arrangement of the panels and the seam locations in relation to the supporting tabs 27, the new panty supports the stockings so as to give them attractive appearance at all times. The points on the body at which this support is effected are at the upper thigh bending points, close to the conventional panty line. However, the new panty construction eliminates the common back panty gusset line under tight slacks, etc. In addition, it is comfortable to the wearer and pleasing in appearance, particularly in that it easily follows the body movements while avoiding bulging excess fabric and avoiding displacement of the back waist and back seat incident to bending.

I claim:

1. A panty adapted to support hosiery and comprising front and back panels of knitted fabric adapted for substantially greater stretching vertically than horizontally, a pair of side panels of knitted fabric adapted for substantially greater stretching horizontally than vertically, seams joining opposite lateral edge portions of each side panel to adjacent lateral edge portions of the front and back panels, respectively, a crotch piece having opposite end portions seamed to said front and back panels, respectively, said piece and the lower edge portions of said panels defining leg openings, elastic material secured to and extending along at least part of the upper edge portions of said panels to provide the panty with an elastic waist, said side panels gradually decreasing in width from their upper edge portions, said front and back panels gradually increasing in width from their upper edge portions and said back panel being substantially wider at its top and bottom than said front panel, elastics secured to said crotch piece and panels and extending around the respective leg openings, and attachment means releasably attachable to hosiery and secured to at least some of said panels adjacent each leg opening, each said means including a tab depending from the inside of a panel above a said elastic and terminating in a free lower end portion located above a said leg opening, and an attachment element secured to said lower end portion of the tab and located between the outer side of the tab and a said elastic.

2. A panty according to claim 1, in which said attachment elements are hooks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,465,913 3/ 1949 Murdock. 2,522,375 9/1950 Jones 2-224 2,711,542 6/1955 Rosenberg 2-224 2,876,779 3/1959 Ebert. 3,235,883 2/1966 Salamon.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,386,250 12/ 1964 France.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 490, 075 Dated Ja nuary 20 1970 Inventofls) George Abbott It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

colunmhl, line 47, "panels" should be --pane1-'-.

Column 1, 'line &7, delete "made of a knitted fabric,

such as nylon tricot, which" and insert --construction which enables the waist of the panty-- 3| S EALED our 2 01% OCT. 20, 1970 M I 1 r-' m I was our 02 Pate g mmannmJe mom 

